E*Trade Profit Surges; Sale Talks Still in Progress

NEW YORK—E*Trade Financial Corp.'s third-quarter profit surged from a year ago, boosted by an income-tax benefit. The online brokerage also set aside less money to cover losses from bad loans.

E*Trade, which is being pushed by its largest shareholder, Citadel LLC, to explore a potential sale of the company, offered no update on Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s review of its strategic alternatives.